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Senate roundup: multiple bills pass, including driver-license fee increase and veterans‑cemetery expansion
Summary
The South Dakota Senate passed a package of bills on the floor covering driver‑license fee increases, tax refunds for seniors and disabled persons, an expansion of the state veterans cemetery, rural school sparsity funding, funding for sexual assault exam kits, and a set of economic‑development appropriation bills and oversight measures.
The South Dakota Senate on the floor passed multiple bills in a series of roll‑call votes and consent actions.
Key outcomes: SB 3 (driver license fee increase) passed by roll call; SB 44 (tax refunds for elderly and disabled persons) passed unanimously and with a two‑thirds vote; SB 52 (South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery expansion) passed by unanimous two‑thirds vote; SB 70 (increase to the maximum sparsity benefit for sparse school districts) passed by a majority vote; SB 99 (one‑time funding to purchase, store and distribute sexual assault examination kits) passed with a two‑thirds majority; and several economic development appropriation vehicle bills (SB 136, 137, 138) passed with required thresholds. The Senate also passed SB 144, which requires legislative approval for Game, Fish and Parks capital expenditures that cumulatively exceed $2.5 million.
Votes at a glance
- Senate Bill 3 — Increase driver license fees (sponsor: Senator Billhauer). Final passage recorded 24 yeas, 11 nays.
- Senate Bill 44 — Modify tax refunds for elderly persons and persons with a disability; makes an appropriation (sponsor: Senator Rotten). Passed 35 yeas, 0 nays (two‑thirds required and obtained).
- Senate Bill 52 — Authorize expansion of South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery; includes state match for a federal grant (sponsor: Senator Zickmund). Passed 35 yeas, 0 nays (two‑thirds required and obtained).
- Senate Bill 70 — Modify maximum sparsity benefit for sparse school districts (sponsor: Senator Marty). Passed 27 yeas, 8 nays.
- Senate Bill 99 — One‑time appropriation to Department of Health for purchasing, storing, and distributing sexual assault examination kits while a long‑term plan is developed (sponsor: Senator Reid). Passed 30 yeas, 5 nays (two‑thirds required and obtained).
- Senate Bills 136, 137, 138 — annual/vehicle appropriation bills for economic development and related items (sponsor: Senator Otten). SB 136 passed 31 yeas, 4 nays; SB 137 passed 28 yeas, 7 nays; SB 138 passed 31 yeas, 4 nays (all required two‑thirds votes and were declared passed).
- Senate Bill 144 — Require legislative approval for Game, Fish and Parks capital expenditures exceeding $2.5 million cumulatively (sponsor: Senator Carr). Passed 35 yeas, 0 nays.
Several bills were handled on the consent calendar or with minimal floor debate; votes reported above reflect roll calls recorded on the floor. Some measures carried appropriations or matching requirements; titles and appropriation details are recorded in the respective enrolled bills.
